Chair backrest with integral lumbar support

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a chair backrest comprising a support structure constituted by a single piece of injected plastic material, including a bearing section having a front surface against which a user's back is to bear.

[0002] To enhance comfort, chair backrests are often provided with lumbar supports able to sustain and to apply an elastic force against the user's lumbar region.

[0003] Known lumbar support devices are generally constituted by a high number of components and they have a bulk that makes their use incompatible in the simplest, most economical chairs in which the backrest comprises a single piece of injected plastic material.

[0004] Further known lumbar support devices are used in car seats, for example JP 2003 070588 A.

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide a chair backrest formed by a single piece of injected plastic material and provided with an integrated lumbar support that is simple, economical and able to provide a high level of comfort.

[0006] According to the present invention, said object is achieved by a backrest having the characteristics set out in claim 1.

[0007] The present invention shall now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, provided purely by way of non limiting example, in which:

• Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a backrest according to the present invention,
• Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the backrest of Figure 1,
• Figure 3 is a lateral view of the backrest of Figure 1,
• Figures 4a-c are sections according to the line IV-IV of Figure 3, showing the lumbar support in different positions,
• Figure 5 is a plan view of the backrest of Figure 1, and
• Figures 6a-d are sections according to the line VI-VI of Figure 5, showing the lumbar support in different positions.

[0008] With reference to the figures, the numeral 10 designates a backrest according to the present invention. The backrest 10 comprises a support structure 12 constituted by a single piece of injected plastic material. The support structure 12 is constituted by relatively rigid plastic material, preferably polypropylene.

[0009] The support structure 12 comprises, in a single piece of injected material, two lateral uprights 14 and a bearing section 16 against which a user's back is to bear. The bearing section 16 extends between the two uprights 14 and it has a front surface 18 with an arched shape.

[0010] The bearing section 16 of the support structure 12 has a through opening 20 that extends in a lumbar region of the front surface 18, i.e. the region against which, in use, the lumbar region of a user's back bears. The shape and the dimension of the opening 20 approximate the contact area between the lumbar region of an average user and the front surface 18 of the bearing section 16.

[0011] The backrest 10 comprises a lumbar support panel 22 positioned movably in the opening 20. The lumbar support panel 22 has a shape matching that of the opening 20 but with smaller dimensions than those of the opening. Therefore, between the mutually facing edges of the panel 22 and of the opening 20 is defined a clearance, preferably with constant thickness, along the entire perimeter of the panel 22.

[0012] The lumbar support panel 22 has a front surface 24 against which the lumbar region of the user's back is to bear. The lumbar support panel 22 is made of relatively rigid injected plastic material. Preferably, the lumbar support panel 22 is made of the same material as the support structure 12. The front surface 24 of the frontal support panel 22 preferably has an arched shape with a curvature matching that of the front surface 18 of the bearing section 16.

[0013] The lumbar support panel 22 is connected to the support structure 12 by means of an elastic element 26 made of injected elastomeric material. The elastic element 26 preferably has an annular shape that completely surrounds the lumbar support panel 22. In its cross section, the elastic element 26 is preferably bellows shaped. The radially outer edge 28 of the elastic element 26 is fastened to the edge of the opening 20 and the radially inner edge of the elastic element 26 is fastened to the edge of the lumbar support panel 22.

[0014] Alternatively, the elastic element could be formed by a plurality of radial bridges with bellows cross section made of injected elastomeric material, distanced from each other in circumferential direction. For example, four radial bridges, arranged at 90° from each other, or three radial bridges, mutually distanced by 120°, can be provided.

[0015] In a preferred method for fabricating the backrest according to the present invention, the support structure 20 and the lumbar support panel 22 are constructed with a single injection moulding operation, leaving an empty clearance between the edge of the panel 22 and the edge of the opening 20. After the injection of the relatively rigid plastic material forming the support structure 12 and the lumbar support panel 22, in the same injection moulding equipment is carried out a co-injection of a flexible elastic material in the clearance defined between the edges of the lumbar support panel 22 and of the opening 20. The outer edges 28, 30 of the elastic elements 26 are fastened to the corresponding edges of the opening 20 and of the lumbar support panel 22 during the same co-injection operation whereby the elastic element 26 is formed.

[0016] In the absence of a backward thrust applied on the lumbar support panel 22, the elastic element 26 keeps the lumbar support panel 22 in the position shown in Figures 6a and 4a. In this position, the front surface 24 of the lumbar support panel 22 projects anteriorly relative to the front surface 18 of the bearing section 16.

[0017] When a user bears with his/her back against the support section 16, the lumbar region of the user's back pushes the lumbar support panel 22 backwards. The elastic element 26 produces an elastic force which presses the panel 22 against the user's lumbar region. The lumbar support panel 22 can also move asymmetrically relative to the support structure 12, as shown for example in Figures 4b, 4c and 6b, 6c, 6d. The lumbar support panel 22 returns to the initial position when the backward thrust exerted by the user ceases.

[0018] The elastic element 26 allows an orientation in space of the lumbar support panel 22 for which said panel adapts perfectly to the user's morphology. The panel 22 provides an adequate support of the lumbar region and increases the sensation of comfort perceived by the user.

Claims

1. Chair backrest, comprising a support structure (12) constituted by a single piece of injected plastic material, including a bearing section (16) having a front surface (18) against which a user's back is to bear, characterised in that the bearing section (16) has an opening (20) that extends in a lumbar region of said front surface (18), and in that the backrest (10) comprises a lumbar support panel (22) movably positioned in said opening (20), the lumbar support panel (22) having a front surface (24) against which a lumbar region of the user's back is to bear and having an outer perimeter that is connected to the edge of said opening (20) by means of an elastic element (26) that tends to thrust the support panel (22) towards a position in which the front surface (24) of the lumbar support panel (22) projects anteriorly relative to the front surface (18) of said bearing section (16).

2. Backrest as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the support structure (12) and the lumbar support panel (22) are constituted by a first relatively rigid plastic material and in that the elastic element (26) is constituted by a second relatively flexible injected elastic material.

3. Backrest as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the elastic element (26) extends in a clearance defined between the outer perimeter of the lumbar support panel (22) and the edge of the opening (20).

4. Backrest as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the elastic element (26) completely surrounds the frontal support panel (22).

5. Backrest as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the elastic element (26) comprises a plurality of radial bridges, angularly distanced from each other.

6. Backrest as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the elastic element (26) has substantially bellows-like cross section.

7. Backrest as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the elastic element (26) has an outer edge (28) that is fastened to the edge of the opening (20) and an inner edge (30) that is fastened to the outer edge of the lumbar support panel (22).

Ansprüche

1. Sitzrückenlehne, welche einen Tragaufbau (12) enthält, welcher durch ein Einzelstück aus einem Kunststoff-Spritzgussmaterial gebildet ist, welches eine Lagersektion (16) enthält, welche eine vordere Oberfläche (18) hat, an welche der Rücken eines Benutzers angelehnt wird, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Lagersektion (16) eine Öffnung (20) hat, welche sich in einer Lendenregion von der vorderen Oberfläche (18) erstreckt, und dass die Rückenlehne (10) eine Lendentragplatte (22) enthält, welche in der Öffnung (20) bewegbar positioniert ist, wobei die Lendentragplatte (22) eine vordere Oberfläche (24) hat, an welche sich eine Lendenregion des Rückens von dem Benutzer anlehnt und einen Außenumfang hat, welcher mit der Kante von der Öffnung (20) mittels eines elastischen Elements (26) verbunden ist, welche dazu neigt, die Tragplatte (22) zu einer Position hin zu drücken, an welcher die vordere Oberfläche (24) von der Lendentragplatte (22) in Relation zu der vorderen Oberfläche (18) von der Lagersektion (16) nach vorne vorragt.

2. Rückenlehne nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Tragstruktur (12) und die Lendentragplatte (22) durch ein erstes relativ starres Kunststoffmaterial gebildet sind, und dass das elastische Element (26) durch ein zweites relativ flexibles elastisches Spritzgussmaterial gebildet ist.

3. Rückenlehne nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass sich das elastische Element (26) in eine Aussparung erstreckt, welche zwischen dem Außenumfang von der Lendentragplatte (22) und der Kante von der Öffnung (20) bestimmt ist.

4. Rückenlehne nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das elastische Element (26) die vordere Tragplatte (22) vollständig umgibt.

5. Rückenlehne nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das elastische Element (26) eine Mehrzahl von radialen Brücken enthält, welche zueinander winklig beabstandet sind.

6. Rückenlehne nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das elastische Element (26) einen im Wesentlichen balgförmigen Querschnitt hat.

7. Rückenlehne nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das elastische Element (26) eine Außenkante (28) hat, welche an der Kante von der Öffnung (20) befestigt ist, und eine Innenkante (30) hat, welche an der Außenkante von der Lendenstützenplatte (22) befestigt ist.

Revendications

1. Dossier de chaise, comprenant une structure de support (12) constituée par une pièce unique de matière plastique injectée, incluant une section portante (16) ayant une surface frontale (18) contre laquelle le dos d'un utilisateur doit venir porter, caractérisé en ce que la section portante (16) comporte une ouverture (20) qui s'étend dans une région lombaire de ladite surface frontale (18), et en ce que le dossier (10) comprend un panneau de support lombaire (22) positionné de façon mobile dans ladite ouverture (20), le panneau de support lombaire (22) ayant une surface frontale (24) contre laquelle une région lombaire du dos de l'utilisateur doit venir porter, et ayant un périmètre extérieur qui est relié à la bordure de ladite ouverture (20) au moyen d'un élément élastique (26) qui tend à pousser le panneau de support (22) vers une position dans laquelle la surface frontale (24) du panneau de support lombaire (22) se projette en direction antérieure par rapport à la surface frontale (18) de ladite section portante (16).

2. Dossier selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que la structure de support (12) et le panneau de support lombaire (22) sont constitués par une première matière plastique relativement rigide, et en ce que l'élément élastique (26) est constitué par une seconde matière élastique injectée relativement flexible.

3. Dossier selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que l'élément élastique (26) s'étend dans un intervalle défini entre le périmètre extérieur du panneau de support lombaire (22) et la bordure de l'ouverture (20).

4. Dossier selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que l'élément élastique (26) entoure complètement le panneau de support frontal (22).

5. Dossier selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que l'élément élastique (26) comprend une pluralité de pontets radiaux, à distance angulaire les uns des autres.

6. Dossier selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que l'élément élastique (26) présente une section transversale sensiblement semblable à un soufflet.

7. Dossier selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que l'élément élastique (26) présente une bordure extérieure (28) qui est fixée à la bordure de l'ouverture (20), et une bordure intérieure (30) qui est fixée à la bordure extérieure du panneau de support lombaire (22).

Drawing